BARCELONA – From March 3 to 6, 2025, the World Mobile Communications Congress (MWC) transformed Barcelona’s convention center into a global stage for technological innovation. Among the 300+ Chinese exhibitors, Shenzhen’s humanoid robot developers commanded unprecedented attention, with King Felipe VI of Spain personally interacting with Kuafu, a humanoid robot developed by Leju Robotics, during the opening ceremony. This historic human-robot handshake instantly captured global headlines.
The spotlight remained firmly on advanced humanoid robots throughout the event. Kuafu, recognized as China’s first open-source HarmonyOS humanoid robot capable of jumping and multi-terrain navigation, demonstrated remarkable agility. Powered by KaihongOS developed by Shenzhen Kaihong and integrated with Harbin Institute of Technology’s “Living Character” large language model, this humanoid robot showcased real-time perception, decision-making, and interactive capabilities.
Simultaneously, the debut of “Tina” – a collaborative humanoid robot project by ZTE and Sichuan Tianchain – drew large crowds. This sophisticated humanoid robot engaged visitors through natural conversations while performing complex social interactions like photo invitations and gift presentations. ZTE’s technological ecosystem enabled Tina’s capabilities through:
- High-reliability wireless networks with ultra-low latency
- Distributed computing through AIR RAN architecture
- ZTE’s Nebula multimodal AI deployed on computing base stations
While not exhibiting humanoid robots directly, Shenzhen tech giants Huawei and Honor provided foundational technologies enabling next-generation robotics:
- Huawei’s millimeter-wave communication enabling high-definition visual data transmission
- Honor’s on-device AI large models creating “device-cloud-robot” ecosystems
- Joint development of 5G-Advanced and AI computing infrastructure
Concurrent with the Barcelona showcase, Shenzhen authorities unveiled ambitious policy frameworks positioning the city as a global humanoid robot hub. Two strategic documents released on March 3 outline comprehensive roadmaps:
- The Shenzhen Action Plan for Building an AI Pioneer City (2025-2026)
- The Shenzhen Action Plan for Technological Innovation and Industrial Development of Embodied AI Robots (2025-2027)
The latter document establishes concrete industrial targets for humanoid robot development by 2027:
- Breakthroughs in core components, AI chips, and multi-modal perception
- Development of 10+ companies valued over ¥10 billion
- 20+ enterprises exceeding ¥1 billion annual revenue
- Implementation of 50+ application scenarios generating ¥10 billion+ value
- Industrial cluster scale reaching ¥100 billion with 1,200+ companies
Industry leaders welcomed the policy direction. “We’re tremendously encouraged by the government’s commitment to advancing humanoid robot industrialization,” stated Wu Wei, PR Director of Digital Huaxia (Shenzhen) Technology. The company’s emotionally expressive humanoid robot “Xia Lan” has gained significant attention since its 2024 launch.
Global industry evolution is shifting from technical demonstrations to practical functionality. Guo Yandong, CEO of Shenzhen embodied intelligence robotics firm Zhipingfang, emphasized: “The next competitive frontier lies in operational versatility rather than physical feats. True value emerges when humanoid robots transition from performing tricks to accomplishing work.”
Market projections validate the sector’s explosive potential. Research indicates the global humanoid robot market will surge from $1.8 billion in 2023 to $13.8 billion by 2028, representing a 50.2% CAGR. China’s growth trajectory appears even steeper, with forecasts anticipating a ¥38 billion domestic market by 2030 at over 60% annual growth.
Financial markets responded immediately to the MWC developments and Shenzhen policy announcements. On March 4, AI-related stocks surged with VeriSilicon (Shanghai) rising 20%. The momentum continued on March 5 as humanoid robot stocks maintained strong performance. Notable movements included:
- Horizon Robotics’s 34.57% four-day surge after inclusion in Hang Seng Tech Index
- UBTech receiving a 100%+ target price increase to HK$142 from Citigroup
- Zhongqing Robotics securing ¥200 million funding at ¥1.5 billion valuation
“The investment frenzy is unprecedented,” revealed an industry insider. “Leading humanoid robot companies have reached investment capacity limits, with two prominent Yangtze River Delta firms reportedly preparing IPO documentation.”
As MWC 2025 concluded, Shenzhen’s dual approach of technological innovation and strategic policy support established the city as a central force in the rapidly accelerating humanoid robot revolution. The convergence of academic research, corporate development, and governmental vision signals China’s determined advancement in defining the next era of intelligent robotics.